Electrical device for automatically stopping trains.



No. 892,271. I PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

G. W. LANCASTER. ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING TRAINS.

APPLIQATION FILED r512. 25. 1907.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

suozntoz Nd. 892,271. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

G. W. LANCASTER. ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING TRAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 25. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PjENT ornron.

GEORGE W. LANCASTER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING TRAINS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. LANG-AS- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Devices for Automatically Stop ing Trains; and I do hereby declare the to owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for automatically sto ping trains, and particularly to electrica ly o erated means that are adapted to be broug t into operation when a train passes a signal set at danger.

The invention comprises the production of improved means mounted upon an engine that is adapted to be operated by current from an auxiliary track.

The invention further comprises the production of an auxiliary track, means for supplying an electrical current to said track when the signal along the track is set at danmotive and a semaphore shown in connection therewith, the present invention bein shown in connection with the semaphore and ocomotive. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a semaphore at safety showing broken the electric circuit which forms part of the present invention.

Fig.3 is an enlarged deta top plan view of an engineers brake valve with art of the present invention a plied there 0. Fig. 4 is an enlarge'd'deta' view of an engineers valve showing a slightly modified way of attaching partof the present invention thereto. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a locomotive having a modified form of the i 22 upon which arm 21 1s mounted, is an arm present invention secured thereto.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 25, 1907. Serial No. 359,165.

Patented June 30,1908.

The present invention relates to means for automatically sto ping trains, and may be applied to any of t 1e locomotives now in us 1 without changing the same.

In order to clearly disclose my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings an embodiment of my invention in which 1 represents an engine of any usual or preferred type provided with the usual engineers valve 2. Mounted adjacent theengineers valve 2 is a solenoid 3 having a reciprocating core 4. The core 4 has secured to its outer end a link 5 whichin turn is pivotally secured to an extension 6 formed on the lever 7 of engineers valve 2. If desired the extension 6 may be omitted and the link 5 pivotally mounted on the arm 7, at 8, but

usually it is more convenient to have the ex tension 6 formed on the lever 7 and attach link 5 thereto as it then leaves lever"? more free for the engineer to operate whenever desired.

From the solenoid 3 Wires 19 and 10 pass downward 'to brushes 11 and 12 as clearly seen in Fig. 1.- Suitable supporting means as arms 13 and 14 are provided for supporting brushes 11 and 12 in position. In order to secure a better contact, brushes 11 and 12 are provided with a plurality of contact points 15 and 16. The brushes 11 and 12 are ri idly (positioned on the locomotive and are adapte to contact with auxiliary rails 17 and 18 when passing a signal, as semaphore 19. If current is being supplied to rails 17 and 18 when the locomotive passes the same brushes 11 and 12 will contact therewith and permit the circuit between the two rails to be closed through solenoid 3. As will be evident when solenoid 3 is energized it will-rotate arm 7 and apply the brakes. 'If rails 17 and 18 are not provided with electrical current when the train passes the same, brushes 11 and 12 will contact with the same but will not complete a circuit for solenoid 3 and consequently the brake valve 2 is still held closed.

The rails 17 and 18 are supplied with electrical current from 'any su table source as battery 20 when the semaphore 19 .has its arm 21 set at danger. The arm 21 of semaphore 19 may be operated either by an automatic system, or by a switchman, as may be desired, the. same not forming any part of the present invention. Rigidly secured to shaft or extension 23to which is rigidlysecured aism-met 2ft that is adapted to carry contact lugs or members 25 and 26. The'memberor cross arm '24 is made from any desirableinsulating inaterialso as to electrically insulate blot-k or contact members 25 and 26 from each other. Blocks 25 and 26 are adapted to be moved in the arc of a circle by the movement of shaft-22 as clearly seen in Fig.

2 so as to he moved out oi contact withblocks 27 and 2S. Blocks 2? and 28 are insulated lromtlie framework of the semaphore in any desirable way, and have secured gthereto wires 29 and 30 which are in turn connected to rails]? andl-S respectively. Secured to' blocks 25 and 26 are wires 31 and 32 respec tively.

through apertures 33 and 34, and from thence in any cimvenient manner to battery 20,

"From this it will be observed that contact members 25 and26 are continually connected with battery 20 but are insulated from each other, and will not form a complete circuitfor the battery until'arm 21 of'thesemaphore is thrown to danger. ,VVhen army 21 is thrown to danger contact members 25 -and"26 will contact with contact members or'lugs 27 and 28. The contacting of the contact members in this manner-Will connect wire 31 to Wire29, and wire 32 to wire 30. This'will put rails 17 and 18 in electrical connection with battery 20, and when brushes 1 1 and 12 contact with rails 17 and 18 acircuit is completed through solenoid ,3. By the use of the contact mem- 'bcrs 25, 26, 27 and 28, and when the'same,

are brought into ci'mtact' upon the semaphore being thrown to danger, battery 20 will automatically charge rails 17 and 18 for acting upon any trains that may attempt-to pass said semaphore. f In case-the semaphore arm 7 21 is at safety or caution, the contact memi bers25, 26, 27 and 28 are out of contact and consequently rails 17 and 18 are out of conncction with battery 20 so that a train passing the 'sen'iaphore will not. receive'current through its brushes 1] and12.

In Fig. 5 will be seen a slightly modified I ,formof the present invention in which a i to said pipe.

solenoid3 is mounted upon the air pipe 34, or desired to any part of the engine adjacent A core 4 is )rovided for solenoid 3, to which is secured a link 5 which is preferably pivotally mounted upon core 4. Link 5 is-pivoted at its outercnd at 6 toan arm or lever 7 which is adapted to operate a valve 2. Valve 2 is positioned on air pipe 34 of the brake system, and is designed when open to exhaust air from the brake cylinders for permitting the brakes to be applied. \Vhen the engine passes the rails 17, and 18, brushes 1 1 and 12 will contact therewith, and il the railsare charged. will complete a circuit through wires 9' and 10 for energizing the solenoid .3. When the seienoid' i has Wires 31 and 32are conveyed into the interior of the framework of the semaphore 19-v permit air to escape therefrom for applying the brakes.

' applied upon any system ofsignals now in use in which the signal is moved to danger fm atically operated by the signals as they are moved from one position to the other. Vvl eii'the signal is at danger the present "pass the, signalthat has beenthr'own to danger. 'iThe 'inyention is equally adapted to operate trains running in eitherdirection. I

ent invention is-t-he particular arrangement pl aced in position I ahd ireadyjor operation without wasting substantiallyjanyfl electrical energy,"and withoutvusing' the same until it is ready to -mechanism. f t. v v

' \VjhatI claim is comprising an ,-electrically operated means mounted upon-an engine for operating the air -brake valve "thereof; auxiliary rails,

ing'wires'for providing a circuit betweei said rails and said electrically operated means,

saidengine'for contact with said rails,-a

members for connecting the circuit of said tact members and an oscillating armcarrywhereby when said semaphore isthrown to danger said source of current is connected'to said rails.

ing current thereto, means mounted upon a locomotive for operating theengin eersj air brake valve thereof, and means iorconnecting said rails and said valves and operating ing ainksecured to said coreat one end, and

means for securing thc opposite end of said The present invention is adapted tohe and=toysafety, and it is adapted tobe auto One of the important features of the'pres- I of parts that will permit the device to be 1. A device of the character described,

means for supplying currentto-said auxiliary the character described, 7

thereot, contact rails, brushes mounted upon ing said insulating arm, said oscillating arm V being'operated by the shaft of aIsemaphore,

3. A device of the character described comprising auxiliary rails, means for supplybeen 'en'ergized it willfrevolve valve .2" and i 417-5 invention is .operated' so, ash to'apply the,

brakes of the train if the same attempts-to:

operate the, brake operating brushes'contactingwith'said rails, connect-f source of current for supplying current to said rails, a plurality 0', movable contact current, an insulating'arm'cariying said con? means, saidvalveoperating means comprisa solenoid, a reciprocating core tl'ieircl'or; Y

link to the arm of said air brake valve, and said link and means for securing the same to said core being adapted to permit said core to reciprocate freely and yet transmit rotary movement to said valve.

4. A device of the character described, comprising an electrically operated means mounted upon an engine .for operating the air brake valve thereof, a plurality of brushes mounted on each side of the engine, and means connecting said brushes with said electrically operated means, auxiliary rails contacting with said brushes, means for supplying said rails with electrical current, switch members interposed in-said circuit, and a semaphore connected to said switch members for operating the same.

5. A device of, the character described, comprising electrically operated means mounted upon a locomotive for operating the air brake valve thereof, means for supplying current to said electrically operated means, a semaphore for breaking the circuit of said current, said semaphore comprising a signal arm and an auxiliary arm secured thereto, a cross bar secured to said arm, contact members secured to said cross bar, and contact members secured to said semaphore, the contact members on said cross bar and on said semaphore bein ada ted to be brought into engagement with the signal arm of the semaphore to danger.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses. GEQRGE W. LANCASTER.

Witnesses:

'ISADOR SHAPIRO,

ROBERT A. SHEPPARD.

eac 1 other upon throwing 

